Project Manager II

at Creative Circle, LLC in Mettawa, Illinois, United States Job Description Overview of the Role Our internal healthcare agency client is seeking a Project Manager II with strong agency and pharmaceutical marketing experience to independently manage high-volume print and digital project portfolios within a fast-paced in-house agency environment. In this role, you will own timelines, documentation, and day-to-day execution while partnering closely with Account Managers and creative teams to ensure work stays on strategy, on schedule, and compliant. This role operates with a high level of autonomy. There is no layered PM structure, so Project Managers at this level are expected to fully own their portfolios, proactively manage risk, anticipate dependencies, and navigate complex regulated review (MLR) processes with confidence. Successful PMs think ahead, keep the trains running, and stay deeply connected to the work even during peak volume periods.

The Basics Duration:

1 year

Hours:

40 hours/week, Monday through

Friday Location:

Lake County, IL (Mettawa area)

Schedule:

Hybrid; Onsite Tuesday through Thursday; remote Monday and Friday Top 3 Required Qualifications 4 to 6 years of project management experience within an advertising agency or in-house agency environment, with recent experience supporting pharmaceutical or healthcare clients strongly preferred. Proven experience independently managing large, high-volume project portfolios, including 40 to 60 concurrent projects with periodic surges during peak cycles. Highly proactive and solutions oriented, with strong risk identification, dependency mapping, and stakeholder communication skills in regulated environments such as MLR. Other Qualifications Bachelor degree required Pharmaceutical or healthcare marketing experience within the past 2 to 3 years strongly preferred Deep understanding of agency workflows across account, creative, studio, development, and review cycles Demonstrated ability to rebalance timelines and priorities when projects launch late or requirements shift Excellent documentation, meeting facilitation, and communication skills Digital project management and or print production experience required Proficiency with project management tools; the team uses Kantata (Mavenlink) and Microsoft 365, with Smartsheet or Workfront experience a plus Key Responsibilities Independently manage a high volume of concurrent print and digital projects from kickoff through delivery. Build, communicate, and maintain detailed project timelines, dependencies, and risk assessments across portfolios. Lead status meetings and ensure clear ownership and next steps for all project partners. Own routing of work through internal workflows, approvals, and MLR review processes. Partner closely with Account Managers, creative, studio, and development teams to manage priorities and resolve issues quickly. Proactively identify bottlenecks and recommend timeline or process adjustments. Rebalance portfolios when projects enter midstream or launch behind schedule. Maintain core project documentation including specs, estimates, folder structures, and review materials. Serve as a primary point of contact for third-party vendors as needed. Collaborate with Senior PMs during peak periods to align timelines and staffing needs. Track time daily, support estimates, and contribute to billing accuracy. Communicate clearly, calmly, and confidently across all levels of the organization. In this position, you may have access to client or customer systems, confidential and/or proprietary information or data, including medical data. This position is onsite and requires you to work closely with other individuals in a collaborative team environment. Additionally, drug products may be present in the workplace. Benefits Creative Circle's Freelance Employee benefits package includes eligibility for Minimum Essential Coverage (MEC) medical plan, dental/vision/term life package, discount prescription program, critical illness, accident, tele-behavioral health, and 401(k) plan. Sick leave is provided to Candidates whose assignment work location is in a state or city subject to sick leave laws. A Minimum Value (MV) PPO medical plan, Employee Stock Purchase Plan, and paid holiday eligibility are based on length and dates of service. Looking forward to receiving your resume through our website and going over the position with you. Clicking apply is the best way to apply, but you may also: Email your resume in Word to: lucy.dangelo@jobalert.creativecircle.com •Please do NOT change the email subject line in any way. You must keep the

JobID:

:

LD9-1983983

-- in the email subject line for your application to be considered.•Lucy D'Angelo - Senior Recruiter, Enterprise For Creative Circle to represent you for this opportunity, you must be currently authorized to work in the United States without the need of employer sponsorship for a non-immigrant visa such as a H-1B, TN, or O visa. We do not support or provide training for

STEM/OPT

programs. Additionally, you must be physically located in and perform the work for our client in the United States. This job was first posted by Creative Circle on 04/16/2026 and applications will be accepted on an ongoing basis until the position is filled or closed. Creative Circle is an Equal Opportunity Employer All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, or related medical conditions), age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, genetic information, registered domestic partner status, marital status, disability, status as a crime victim, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Our hiring process includes AI screening for keywords and minimum qualifications. Recruiters review all results. Creative Circle will consider qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable state and local law, including but not limited to the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance, the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, and the California Fair Chance Act. If you need a reasonable accommodation in the application process, please contact your Recruiter (the person you'll be interviewing with) or a member of our Human Resources team to make arrangements. United Healthcare creates and publishes the Transparency in Coverage Machine-Readable Files on behalf of Creative Circle. Copyright 1999 - 2026. CreativeCircle, Inc. All rights reserved. VEVRAA Federal Contractor. We request Priority Protected Veteran & Disabled Referrals for all of our locations within the state. To view full details and how to apply, please login or create a Job Seeker account